The Jazz Singer (1952 film)

The Jazz Singer is a 1952 remake of the famous 1927 talking picture The Jazz Singer. It stars Danny Thomas, Peggy Lee, and Eduard Franz, and was nominated for an Oscar for best musical score. The film follows about the same storyline as the version starring Al Jolson. It was also distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The Jazz Singer
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Curtiz
Written bySamson Raphaelson (play)
Frank Davis
Leonard Stern
Lewis Meltzer
Produced byLouis F. Edelman
StarringDanny Thomas
Peggy Lee
CinematographyCarl E. Guthrie
Edited byAlan Crosland, Jr.
Music byRay Heindorf
Max Steiner
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • December 30, 1952 (1952-12-30)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2 million (US)[1]
Peggy Lee and Danny Thomas

Plot

edit

As Jerry Golding, a young Korean War veteran, scales the heights of show business, he breaks the heart of his father, who had hoped that Jerry would instead follow in the footsteps of six consecutive generations of cantors in their family. Sorrowfully, Cantor David Golding reads the Kaddish service, indicating that, so far as he is concerned, his son is dead. A tearful reconciliation occurs when Jerry dutifully returns to sing the "Kol Nidre" in his ailing father's absence.

Cast

edit
Actor Role
Danny Thomas Jerry Golding
Peggy Lee Judy Lane
Eduard Franz Cantor David Golding
Mildred Dunnock Mrs. Ruth Golding
Alex Gerry Uncle Louis
Allyn Joslyn George Miller
Tom Tully McGurney

Production

edit

Eduard Franz, who played the role of the aged and ailing cantor battling his son, would go on to reprise his role in the television version of the story starring Jerry Lewis that would be broadcast just seven years later in 1959.

Accolades

edit
Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Scoring of a Musical Picture Ray Heindorf and Max Steiner Nominated [2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Top Box Office Hits of 1953", Variety, January 13, 1954
  2. ^ "The 25th Academy Awards (1953) Nominees and Winners". Oscars.org (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
edit